"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela."

In early November 2018, our CEO approached the product design team with the task of creating an essential LMS system for individual teachers and WordPress developers. He aimed to build a system developers could use for their clients and allow teachers to start online schools.

Project Overview:

Tutor LMS is a WordPress plugin designed for creating and managing online learning platforms or e-learning websites. It is a Learning Management Solution (LMS) solution specifically built to work with WordPress.

As a design and business enthusiast, with that in mind, I am excited to take on this project. I initially mapped out the reasons for building this product, how to align business goals with user needs, develop a business model, obtain the necessary data, and formulate a market approach.

User Statistics:

Educator Demographics: Our initial user research identified a diverse group of educators, including instructors from schools (30%), universities (25%), corporate trainers (20%), and independent course creators (25%).

Learner Demographics: Learners varied in age and background, with 45% being students, 35% professionals seeking skill development, and 20% casual learners.

User Needs: User surveys revealed that 70% of educators needed an easy-to-use platform, while 60% of learners emphasized mobile accessibility.

Problem Statement:

The existing LMS options were often complex, expensive, or lacked essential features. We aimed to provide an accessible and user-friendly LMS solution that meets the diverse needs of educators and learners.

Objectives:

Simplified Course Creation: Create an intuitive backend and frontend course creation process that allows educators to design and publish courses effortlessly.

Engaging Learning Experience: Design a learner-centric interface with interactive features to enhance engagement.

Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure the plugin is fully responsive, with statistics indicating that 65% of users access courses on mobile devices.

User Growth: Target an initial user base of 10,000 active installations in WordPress plugin market in the first year.

User Research:

Objective: Understand the specific needs and pain points of educators and learners.

Activities:

• Conducted in-depth interviews with 6 educators and surveyed 11 learners.

• Gathered quantitative and qualitative data on their experiences with existing LMS platforms.

• Analyzed user feedback and identified key pain points.

Statistics:

• 70% of educators mentioned the complexity of existing LMS platforms as a major pain point.

• 60% of learners emphasized the need for mobile accessibility.

• 85% of surveyed educators expressed interest in a more user-friendly LMS solution.

Market Research Analysis:

Objective: Evaluate the competitive landscape and identify gaps in the market.

Activities:

• Conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing LMS products and their features.

• Scrutinized user reviews and ratings of competitors' platforms.

• Researched emerging trends in the eLearning industry.

Statistics:

• Analysis of user reviews revealed that 60% of users were dissatisfied with the user-friendliness of their current LMS.

• Market analysis showed a growing demand for more accessible and mobile-responsive LMS solutions.

Information Architecture and Wireframing:

Activities:

• Developed wireframes and flowcharts to outline the plugin's structure.

• Created user flows to visualize the user journey through the LMS.

• Ensured that the course creation process was logically organized and easy to follow.

Statistics:

• User testing of wireframes revealed a 30% reduction in confusion when compared to existing LMS platforms.

Visual Design:

Activities:

• Create a design system

• Designed a modern and visually cohesive user interface.

• Ensured the design was responsive and adapted seamlessly to various screen sizes and devices.

• Focused on a clean and intuitive layout for both educators and learners.

You can see the demo: Live Demo

Results:

The MVP launch of the WordPress LMS plugin yielded significant results:

• User Adoption: Within six months, we had 8000+ active installations in the WordPress plugin market.

• Course Creation Efficiency: The simplified course creation process led to a 40% reduction in educators' time to create and publish courses.

• Enhanced Engagement: User statistics showed a 25% increase in learner engagement compared to competitors' plugins.

• Mobile Accessibility: 80% of learners reported a positive experience accessing courses on mobile devices.

What I Learned from this Project:

Throughout this project, I gained invaluable insights and lessons that have significantly enriched my understanding of product design and user experience. Here's what I took away from this experience:

• Throughout my experience working closely with educators and learners, I have realized the crucial role of empathy in design. I immerse myself in their world and understand their needs and frustrations, not only as a task but also as an opportunity to connect on a deeper, more human level.

• By adopting an iterative approach, I appreciate the beauty of continuous improvement. Refining the design and getting closer to a more user-friendly solution is what each round of user testing and feedback presents.

• Collaborating with the development team and aligning design decisions with technical feasibility has been challenging yet rewarding. Effective communication and teamwork are crucial to achieve a common goal.

• Above all, this project has reinforced the idea that the user should always be at the center of design decisions. Conducting thorough user research and considering user feedback are guiding principles that drive innovation.

In conclusion, this project was more than just a design endeavor; it was a personal and professional growth journey, enriching my skills and perspective as a product designer.

Note: Some Information has been altered due to the presence of confidential data and adherence to NDA agreements.

Credit:

This project's success resulted from a collective effort, and I'm grateful to everyone who contributed, whether directly or indirectly. Without their involvement, achieving our goal would not have been possible.

• Business dev team: Sekander, Rayhan, Abida

• Content Team: Sreema, Zareen, Saif R Khan

• Motion: Khushi, Shaikat

• Dev Teams: Saif, Shohel, Delowar, Sifat, Saju, Faisal, Nur

• Design Team: Mohan, Shamma, Shaon, Nokshi, Kheya, Humayra, Manna, Afanur, Emran, Syeed and the great Niaz Mahumud

And especially thanks to our support team, CXO, Niaz Mahmud, and Kawshar Ahmed.